Mattress tufting machine



1937- J.-W. DROLL ET AL I MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 10, 1937. .1. w. DROLL ET AL 2,089,252 MATTRESS 'TUFTING MACHINE 4 sheets sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1935 22 575] WDZMZZ .1. w. DROLL ET AL 2,089,252

MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug.- 10, 1937.

J. w. DROLL ET AYL 2,089,252 MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE Filed April 17; 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES attain rarest orrics MATTRESS TUFTING MACHINE ware Application April 17, 1935, Serial No. 16,790

13 Claims.

The invention relates to tufting machines, more particularly to the type in which the mattress is placed on a laterally movable table for successive insertion of rows of tufts into the mattress.

The objects of the invention are: to provide an improved. tufting machine; in which members are adapted to compress a mattress for a row of tufts, a row of needles are provided for inserting tufting ties simultaneously through the mattress and the mattress-supporting table is movable or slidable transversely to position it for successively inserting the rows of tufts; in which one of the compressor members carries a row of needles for inserting the tufting which are movably mounted so that ties can be inserted at intermediate points for difierent types of tufting; in which the needles for inserting a row of tufting ties through the mattress are resiliently mounted so that in event one of them is obstructed by a 4 spring in a mattress, breakage of the needle will be prevented; in which a gang of needles for a row of tufts is adjustably mounted on a compressor member so the spacing between them can be readily varied to correspondingly varying the spacing between the tufts; which is simple in construction and easily and readily operable to tuft mattresses; and other objects which will appear from the detail description.

The invention consists in the several novel 30 features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

W Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the compressor-operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a portion of the upper compressor.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the tufting needles and its carrying block.

Fig. '7 is a perspective of a portion of the lower compressor and needle support.

Fig. 7 is a section on line l -4 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of one end of the 9 machine, the compressors being shown in position to compress the mattress.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a perspective of the slide on which one of the needles is mounted for movement independently of the remaining needles of the series.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of a cap-block secured to slide with the base of said slide.

Fig. 12 is a section on line |2i2 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a section on line |3-I3 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 14 is a section on line l4-l4 of Fig. 8.

The invention is exemplified in a tufting machine comprising a suitable supporting frame on which is carried a freely transversely movable mattress-supporting table, upper and lower compressors each mounted formovement to and from a mattress on the table and a gang of needles movable with one of the compressors for inserting the tufting-ties therethrough.

The supporting frame comprises a pair of rigid cast standards 26 extended transversely at their lower ends to form feet for stably supporting the frame and a pair of longitudinal angle bars 2! fixedly secured to the standards adjacent their lower ends and serving to connect the standards to form a rigid supporting structure for the several operating parts of the machine.

A transversely movable mattress-supporting table or frame 22 comprises longitudinal anglebars 23 fixedly secured to end bars 24, intermediate transverse bars 25 fixedly secured to the 25 bars 23, transverse supporting boards 26 for the ends of the mattress and upstanding end bars 2'! whereby the mattress will be positioned longitudinally on the table. All of these bars are rigidly connected together to form a frame or table for supporting a complete mattress. This supporting frame is freely movable transversely by the operator to successively bring different lines of the mattress into tufting position. End bars 2 11 each fit between a pair of lower rollers 28 and rollers 29 which are journalled on standards 20, and are provided with peripheral grooves into which the lower and upper margins of the bars 24 are confined. To insure true and free rectilinear movement of the mattress-supporting 0 table, a rack-bar 39 is fixed to the outer side of each bar 24. Each rack-bar 30 meshes with a gear 3i formed on one of the rollers 28 and a shaft 32 extends between and is keyed to rotate with said gears and rollers. The remaining guide- 5 rollers 28 and 29 are journalled on studs 33 which are fixed in the standards 20. The ends of shaft 32 are journalled in bearings 34 fixed to the inner side of standards 20. The bars 24 project beyond the bars 23 at the front and rear of the frame 22 and the projecting ends are rigidly supported by corner brackets 35 between bars 23 and bars 24. These extensions support the table when it is shifted into position for tufting the rows adjacent the sides of the mattress. Stops 36 the insertion of a longitudinal row of tufting ties at a single operation. The upper compressor comprises a pair of supporting bars 4% having their ends fixedly secured to brackets M. These brackets are provided with lugs 42 which are slidable on vertical guide-rods 63 which have their upper and lower ends anchored in the standards 25}. Brackets SI travel in vertical slots 44 in said standards. A pair of compressor or mattressengaging bars 45 are supported by hangers 46 and are secured thereto in spaced relation from each other by bolts 4'! and sleeves 48 between bars 45 and hangers 56. The longitudinal space between bars 45 is provided for the tufting needles and ties. The inner upper portions of bars 45 are bevelled as at 49 to provide access to the space between the bars in applying the tufts to the ties after the needles with the ties have passed through the mattress. The lower compressor and needle supporting means comprise a pair of supporting bars 55, which at one end are fixed to a stub-shaft 5| which is slidably fitted in a crosshead 52 and at the other areslidably supported by a stub-shaft 51 Cross-head 52 is provided I with laterally projecting lugs 53 which are slidable on the guide rods 43, so that the blocks and parts supported thereby can rise and fall in the standards and relatively to the mattress-supporting frame.

A row of lower needle and compressor units for a complete longitudinal line of tufts for a mattress are mounted to reciprocate vertically under the mattress. Each of these units comprises a carrier-block 55 for a needle 18 and a pair of upstanding compressor studs 51 arranged transversely of the needle. These studs are vertically aligned with the upper compressor-bars 45 so that when the compressors are brought together, the mattress will be compressed between I the studs and the bars, with spaces for insertion of the ties'betw'een the bars.

Mechanism for simultaneously reciprocating the compressors to compress and release a mattress and force the needles through and out of the mattress comprises a longitudinal shaft 59 which is journalled in the standards 29; a connection between each end of said shaft and one of the brackets 4| at the ends of the upper compressor supporting bars 40 consisting of a crank or arm 60 fixed to rock with shaft 59 and a link 6| pivoted to said crank and pivotally connected by a pin 62 which is held in the bracket 4!; and a connection between each end of shaft 59 and one of the cross-heads 52 whereby the supporting shafts 5|, 5! and bars 50 for the lower compressor are carried, consisting of a crank or arm 63 fixed to shaft 59 so as to rock therewith and a link 84 pivoted to arm or crank 63 and at 65 to cross-head 52. At one end of the machine a foot lever or pedal 65 is pivoted at 6'! to one of the standards 20 and is connected by a wrist-pin 68 which extends through a slot 69 in the lower compressor member to a crank 10 which is fixed to one end of the shaft 59. Lever 66 is provided at either end with a foot piece ll so that by direction to correspondingly operate the compressors. Lever F2 is also provided with a foot piece 76 at its front and rear ends. Lever l2 and the gearing l4, 15 are adapted to be operated while the operator is at one end of the table, and lever 56 while the operator is at the other end, so that the compressors can be operated from either end. The upper ends of links 61 are adiustably connected to brackets M by means of a series of holes 11 for pins 52. pins in different holes, the lowering of the upper compressor with respect to the mattress on the table and the range of travel of said compressor may be varied to give the desired compression according to the thickness of the mattress.

Each block 55 and block 55 has mounted thereon a needle 78 which is adapted to penetrate and pass through the mattress from the bottom to draw a tie through the mattress. This needle is provided with a notch 19 for receiving the 1 upper end of a looped tie, which carries a tuft at its lower end, so that when the upper end of the tie has passed through the compressed mattress, it may be unhooked from the needle and the upper tuft connected thereto before the needle is retracted. Each needle 18 is disposed between an associated pair of tufting studs 5'? and is adapted to pass between the spaced upper compressor bars 45. In practice it has been found that if the ties for a longitudinal row of tufts are simultaneously inserted through the mattress, one or more of the needles may encounter a spring or springs of an inner spring mattress and to prevent breakage of the needle when that occurs, each is yieldingly held in its bracket 55. Each needle 18 is secured in a stem 8%! which is vertically slidable in its carrying block and is provided with a notch 8| to receive the inner curved end of a plunger 82. A coil spring 83 between the plunger and a screw plug 84 which is threaded to a lug projecting from one side of each of said blocks presses the rounded end of the plunger into the notch 8! so that when the needle encounters a spring, the plunger will permit the needle to slide downwardly in bracket 55. Each needle 18 is adjustably secured in its stem- 90 to adapt it to pass through mattresses of different thicknesses. A stem 85 on the plunger 82 extends through the plug 84 so that when desired, the stem 89 may be manually released when it is desired to withdraw, replace or adjust the needle. A knob 86 is provided at the lower end of each stem by which the stem and needle carried thereby may be pushed upwardly into its operative position after it has been lowered. This construction exemplifies. means for yieldingly carrying the needles for inserting ties through the mattress which will yield when any one of the row of needles encounters a spring in the mattress. I The operation for biscuit" tufting will be as follows: the needles will be positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The mattress to be tufted will be' placed on the table 22 between the end boards 21. Markers I I0 are provided on these end boards to indicate the longitudinal lines By setting the along which the tufts are to be applied. The mattress is placed on the table while the compressors are spread apart. The table 22 is then shifted to bring the first line to which the tufts are to be applied between the upper and lower compressor members. Tufting ties each with a button attached to its lower end, will then be hooked into the notches E9 of each of the needles 18 under the mattress. The operator will then, by depressing one end of foot lever 53, operate shaft 58 to operate links 64 to raise the lower compressor supporting bars 50 and to lower the upper compressor supporting bars 40. During this movement, the mattress will be compressed between bars and studs 51 and the needles ill will penetrate and pass through the compressed portions of the mattress.

Next, the tufting loops will be unhooked from the needles I8 and tufting buttons or tufts will be attached to the upper ends. The operator will then shift one of the pedals to lower the supporting bars 5B and to raise the supporting bars 40, which will release the compression of the mattress and Withdraw the needles therefrom. After this operation has been completed, the table can be moved over to one side, to give access to the needles for hanging another series of ties thereon. The table with a mattress thereon will then be shifted transversely to bring the next of the markers I it in line with the compressors for the insertion of the next rows of tufts.

All except one of the compressor and needle units comprise a block 55 which is grooved to receive the bars and each of these blocks is secured on said bars by a pin 56 so that the blocks can be adjusted longitudinally for different spacing between the tufts of a row. The block of the compressor and needle unit at one end of the machine is. carried by a slide 99 which is secured by bolts 9! to the inner end of a stubshaft 5|, and to which the bars 5!! which carry the blocks 55 are slidab-ly connected. Stub-shafts 5M and 5! are suitably locked against rotation in the cross-heads 5 2. The blocks 55, 55 and the needles and compressor-studs carried thereby are movable longitudinally so the needles can be shifted to insert alternative lines of tufts at longitudinally intermediate points of the other lines of tufts. For example, in diamond tufting a mattress, the alternate rows have more tufts than the intermediate rows. The needles and compressor-studs are conjointly shifted longitudinally and one of the needles and pair of studs at the end of the row is shifted relatively to the other needles to bring it beyond one end of the mattress and render it inoperative when the line requires the lesser number of tufts and operative for a line of the greater number. To shift all of the needles and compressor-studs conjointly and to impart to the block 55 sufiicient additional travel to render inoperative and operative for alternate line of tufts, the block 55 which carries the needle atone end and its associated studs 51 is mounted to move with slide 9i! and shaft 5i and a lost-motion connection is provided between the slide and the supporting-bars 50 for blocks 55. The slide 90 is provided with guide grooves 92 for the bars 5!] and a cap 93 also provided with grooves 94 for the upper margins of bars 50, is fixedly secured by bolts 9| to the shaft 5H and slide 90. Slide 90 is also held in connected sliding relation with bars 58 by a grooved cap 95 which is secured by a vertical bolt 96 to the inner end of slide 90. The block 55 is adjustably mounted on the slide 90 by bolts 91 and grooved plates 98 to permit adjustment of the needle in the slide 90 for varying the spacing between the needle on block 55 and the remain ing needles. The endwise travel of bars 50 is limited by thecross-heads 52. A handle 99 is secured to the outer end of shaft 5W. A handle I00 at the other end of the machine is connected by a bar l0! to the slide 90. The relative movement between slide 90 and bars 50 is limited by a stop-pin I02 fixed to the slide and abutments H13 and H14 fixed to one of the bars 50.

In operating the machine for diamond tufting, the handle lllil is moved into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The entire series of six needles will then be operative. When the next line of five tie-s is to be inserted, the handle ml] is pushed inwardly, which will initially'mcve the slide 90 and the carrier 55, with the needle and compressor studs supported thereby, to the left, independently of the blocks 55 which are secured to the bars 50. When the pin I02 strikes the abutment 33 on one of the bars 50, the further inward movement of the handle I06 will cause the pin, by reason of its engagement with abutment M3, to conjointly move the entire series of carriers to the left. This will bring the block 55 so that the needle and compressor-studs carried thereby Will clear the mattress, and will be disposed outwardly of the end-boards 2i on the mattress-table when the cross-heads 52 are raised, and the remaining needles carried by blocks 55 will be equi-distantly spaced for tuftat points longitudinally midway between the line of tufts last made. When the succeeding line of tufts is to be inserted, the operator will pull the handle it!) of the machine outwardly. The slide 99 will initially move to the right independently of the bars 523 until the pin Hi2 strikes the abutment Hi l on one of the bars 5!! and thereafter all. of the needle and compressor-stud carriers will be conjointly shifted to bring all of the needles into operative position for the next line of tufts. This exemplifies means for shifting the needles and compressor-studs for alternative rows of tufts by which they may be conjointly shifted with sufficient additional travel of one of the end needles to alternately render it operative and inoperative by a single operation of one of the handles.

The operator may conveniently work from either side of the machine so that it is not necessary toreach from one side of the mattress to the other in applying the tufts to the needles and the tufts to the ties after they have been inserted through the mattress.

The invention exemplifies a tufting machine which facilitates the work and by which a complete longitudinal row of tufts can be simultaneously inserted at one operation. Also one in which the operator may conveniently adjust the machine for diamond tufting or biscuit tufting. Also one in which provision is made for preventing breakage of the needles in the event that any one of a row encounters a spring in a mattress. The machine is simple in construction and facilitates the work of the operator in tufting.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

from the spirit and 1. In a tufting machine, the combination of a frame mounted on, the structure supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties, a row of needles reciprocable with one of the compressors, for simultaneously inserting a row of tufting ties into the mattress on the frame, and a common reciprocable support for said needles and the compressor movable therewith.

2. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a row of needles reciprocable with one of the compressors, and means for slidably shifting the row of needles into different positions relatively to a mattress on the frame.

3. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a row of needles reciprocable with one of the compressors, and means for differentially and horizontally shifting the needles of a row into different positions, relatively to a mattress on the frame.

4. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structiu'e, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a row of needles reciprocable with one of the compressors, a vertically reciprocable support for the needles and compressors which are reciprocable therewith and means for differentially and horizontally shifting the needles of a row into different positions, relatively to a mattress on the frame, one of said compressors comprising members shiftable horizontally with the needles.

5. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocabie compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a row of needles reciprocable with one of the compressors, common reciprocable supporting means for the needles and the latter compressor, and means for slidably and horizontally shifting the supporting means to bring the needles of the row into different positions relatively to the mattress.

6. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to simultaneously compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, reciprocable supporting means for one of the compressors, and a row of needles for simultaneously inserting a row of tufting ties, mounted on and reciprocable with said supporting means, and means for conjointly shifting the needles on the support, and additionally shifting one of the needles relatively to the others.

7. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move hori- Zontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to simultaneously compress the mattresson the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a reciprocable support for one of the compressors, a row of needles each for simultaneously inserting a row of tufting ties mounted on and reciprocable with said support, said support comprising slidably connected members on which the needles are mounted, and means for reciprocating the needles on the support and relatively shifting said members.

8. In a tufting machine, the combination of a. supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, one of said compressors comprising a row of pairs of studs, a vertically reciprocable support for the studs and a row of reciprocable needles carried by the support and between the studs of each pair respectively, for simultaneously inserting a row of tufting ties.

9. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the of tufting ties into the mattress, one of said compressors comprising a pair of spaced bars and the other a row of pairs of studs, a vertically reciprocable support for the studs and a row of reciprocable needles carried 10. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors adapted to simultaneously which the needles are individually and yieldingly mounted and whereby the needles will be forced through the mattress when the supporting means is reciprocated but arrested when they encounter a solid obstruction in the mattress.

11. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the supporting structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors for the mattress and spring-snap devices for yieldingly retaining the needles in operative position on their supporting means and whereby the needles will be held to pass through the mattress but will be arrested when they encounter a solid obstruction.

12. In a tufting machine, the combination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a series of combined sewing and compressing units each provided with a needle, one of the compressors comprising studs on the units, and a reciprocable support for said units along which they are longitudinally adjustable.

13. In a tufting machine, thecombination of a supporting structure, a mattress-supporting frame mounted on the structure to move horizontally and rectilinearly, upper and lower reciprocable compressors carried by the structure and adapted to compress the mattress on the frame for the insertion of a row of tufting ties into the mattress, a series of combined sewing and compressing units each provided with a needle, one of the compressors comprising studs 0n the units, and a reciprocable bar on which said units are longitudinally adjustable to vary the spacing between them.

JOSEPH W. DROLL. ALEX H. OLSON. 

